Supreme Court stays bail of Kashmiri businessman in terror funding case
New Delhi, Sep 14 : A day after the Delhi High Court granted bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in a terror funding case, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the order.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said it would hear the matter on September 26.
The order came on a plea filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the Delhi High Court's order, saying that it has ignored the evidence against Watali.
Appearing for the NIA, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the apex court that there were "very serious charges" against the businessman and he should not have been granted bail.
The Agency further contended that documents recovered from the premises of Watali's accountant have showed that money had been received from Pakistan-based terrorist leaders Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin and the Pakistan High Commission which was distributed to Hurriyat leaders to finance terror activities.
Forensic analysis of Watali's signature proved his involvement, but the high court ignored the documents as a "piece of paper",the NIA told the apex court.
A counsel appearing for Watali said he was 75-years-old and has been in jail for months and there were no grounds for the NIA to make a case against him.
Watali, arrested for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Saeed, was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on Thursday, directing him to not leave the country without permission.
He had challenged the trial court's June 8 order rejecting his bail plea.
Watali was arrested on August 17, 2017, and was charge-sheeted by the NIA on January 18 along with Saeed, Salahuddin, seven Kashmiri separatist leaders and others in the case.
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Zebra population at Bannerghatta Biological Park increases to 10
Bengaluru (PTI): Bannerghatta Biological Park on Monday announced that the total number of zebras in the zoo has steadily increased to 10 with the addition of two foals.
Zebra Kokila, aged two-and-a-half years, gave birth to a foal on January 17, 2026, and Zebra Kaveri, aged 12 years, gave birth to a foal on January 28, 2026, they said.
In a statement, Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) said both the foals were identified as females.
"The newborns are housed along with the other zebras and are under constant observation by the veterinary team and animal keepers," it said.
With the addition of the foals, the total number of zebras in the zoo has steadily increased to 10.
Officials said that zebras have a gestation period of 12 to 13 months and the foals have brown stripes which will eventually become black.
Visitors can get a glimpse of the newborns during their visit, they added.
